Department for Transport

Bus Services: Safety

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to improve bus passenger safety.

Andrew Jones: Bus operators have an obligation to operate their services safely. The regulatory framework in which local bus services currently operate covers a wide range of passenger safety issues including accessibility for disabled passengers and drivers’ competence and the Traffic Commissioners have the power to take action against bus operators who breach safety standards, including revoking an operator’s licence.

M1: East Midlands

Maggie Throup: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress has been made on plans in the Road Investment Strategy for a new smart motorway between junctions 23 and 25 of the M1.

Andrew Jones: Highways England is aiming to commence construction of the M1 J24 to J25 smart motorway scheme in 2016/17 with completion in 2017/18. M1 J23a to J24 is being developed and Highways England is currently committed to commencing construction on this section in 2019/20. Highways England is currently considering combining these works to ensure the most efficient and effective delivery and minimise disruption to the travelling public. Work continues on developing these proposals and in due course Highways England will be able to confirm the final programme for delivery of M1 J23a to J25.

M1: Nottinghamshire

Maggie Throup: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of a new Junction 25A on the M1.

Andrew Jones: Proposals to improve the Strategic Road Network post-2020 will be considered as we prepare the second Road Investment Strategy – which was announced at Budget 2016. As part of the evidence-gathering process, Highways England is revisiting its Route Strategies to examine issues right across the Network. MPs and stakeholders are encouraged to engage with the process. Any specific proposals to address issues identified, such as additional junctions, will need to be prioritised and represent good value for money.

Freight

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps the Government is taking to support the UK freight sector.

Andrew Jones: The Government is taking a number of steps to support the UK freight sector. These include working to address the LGV Driver shortage by increasing the supply of tests, speed up processing of licence applications and supporting the development of new apprenticeship standards; supporting the development of cleaner vehicles through our Low Carbon Truck trial and improving efficiency and reducing journey numbers through our Longer Semi-Trailer trial. The Government is also investing record amounts in the rail network in this Control Period and beyond. As part of the £38bn investment in the network as a whole, the Strategic Freight Network fund is providing £235.9 million to 2019 to deliver key infrastructure improvements to support the growth of the rail freight sector. I am committed to supporting the growth of rail freight in the UK and have therefore been working with the industry to develop a Rail Freight Strategy, which will set out our shared vision for the future. The Government also provides assistance to the freight industry through the Mode Shift Revenue Support Scheme and the Waterborne Freight Grant scheme, which encourage modal shift from road to rail or water where the costs are higher than road, and where there are environmental benefits to be gained.

Biofuels

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will support the introduction of high-bioethanol blends into petrol to maintain future jobs in the bioethanol industry.

Andrew Jones: The revised industry fuel standard for petrol (EN228), agreed and published by the British Standards Institution in 2013, allows up to ten per cent bioethanol content (known as ‘E10’). However, E10 is not yet on general sale in the UK and whether to supply it is a commercial decision for suppliers. We have been working with industry and others on proposals to increase the supply of sustainable biofuels under the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) scheme in line with our UK carbon budget targets, and plan to consult on proposed changes to the RTFO later this year.

Shipping: Energy

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 1 July 2016 to Question 41126, on shipping: energy, what penalties were given to each of the 24 vessels identified with deficiencies relating to energy efficiency; and how many Port State Control inspections have been carried out at each port since that requirement became mandatory.

Mr Robert Goodwill: Deficiencies identified during an inspection are recorded on the port-State Control record of the respective vessel and are required to be rectified. No additional penalties were applied to any of the 24 vessels that were identified since 1 January 2013 as having a deficiency relating to energy efficiency. The attached table shows the number of port-State Control inspections by port by year since 2013. PQ 168040 Table :Number of PSC inspectionsPort2013201420152016 (upto 30 June)Aberdeen89868042Ardrishaig2 1 Avonmouth6978Ayr3131Baltic Wharf11  Barking412 Barrow Haven12  Barrow in Furness6312Barry Dock1 1 Belfast57695527Berwick upon Tweed2 1 Birkenhead17636Blyth105115Boston511 Braefoot   2Bromborough dock1211Buckie 2  Cairnryan 42 Campbeltown21  Canvey Island311 Cardiff9432Chatham3412Corpach1 21Coryton111 Cowes1  1Denton 1  Dover176185Dundee751 Dunoon1   Eastham331 Ellesmere Port6343Erith5 1 Falmouth302668Fawley232795Felixstowe41512729Finnart8511Flixborough855 Fowey3211Fraserburgh1   Garston 1 1Glasgow9411Glasson Dock 11 Glensanda 1 1Goole2718116Grangemouth2634Grays731 Great Yarmouth21221413Greenock914153Grimsby12863Grove Wharfs (Scunthorpe)181448Grovehurst Jetty11  Gunness Wharf (Scunthorpe)211 Hamble   4Hartlepool4423Harwich4463Heysham1 1 Holyhead1 22Hound Point1112Howdendyke442 Hull64383219Hunterston7821Immingham1201058347Invergordon7532Inverkeithing1   Ipswich1211104Isle of Grain4834Keadby14 1Killingholme 122Kilroot 11 King's Lynn1331Kinlochbervie  1 Kirkwall211 Kyle of Lochalsh21  Larne  4 Leith4951Lerwick2119165Liverpool83895044Londonderry14322Lowestoft14742Mallaig5342Manchester 111Marchwood1   Milford Haven2635103Mistley1211Montrose13144 Mostyn331 Neap House (Scunthorpe)111 New Holland973 Newcastle upon Tyne1 4 Newhaven1   Newhaven 134Newlyn1   Newport (Gwent)1619136North Shields4122Northfleet12611Oban7322Orpington (London)2112Parkeston Quay31 1Penzance1   Perth 1  Peterhead1326276Plymouth91052Poole6465Port Talbot2325207Portland7571Portsmouth11101619Purfleet11261Redcar  1 Ridham Dock412 Rochester11  Rosyth2721Royal Portbury35291612Runcorn91 4Rye1 1 Scalloway137 Scarborough   1Scrabster1   Seaham13 1Sharpness152 Sheerness101043Shellhaven2146Shoreham By Sea532 Silloth11  Silvertown917114South Shields1115126Southampton57874623Southwold3111Stanlow12 1Stornoway1221Sullom Voe 223Sunderland126108Sutton Bridge121 Swansea2613Teesport83704724Teesside 11 Teignmouth112 Thames Haven   1Thamesport235 Tilbury6127243Tranmere7947Troon 12 Tyne18252510Warrenpoint1010121Wisbech  1 Workington 123TOTALS13981291934534

Cycling

Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to promote increased awareness among cyclists of other road users and pedestrians; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The Department recognises that everyone who uses the highway has a responsibility to behave safely and with consideration for others. If a person rides a cycle on a road without due care and attention, or without reasonable consideration for other persons using the road, he is guilty of the offence of careless cycling as set out in Section 29 of the Road Traffic Act 1988. We promote increased awareness of other road users and pedestrians through our Bikeability programme which has £50m funding to cover cycle training from 2016 - 2020. Bikeability not only provides trainees with riding skills suited to the road, but also explains the importance of obeying the Highway Code, the correct use of safety equipment, and sharing the road with other people.

Department for Communities and Local Government

Right to Buy Scheme

Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the number of local authority-owned properties which have been sold under the Right to Buy scheme and subsequently let by private landlords.

Brandon Lewis: An estimate is not possible because information on successive tenures of dwellings is not held centrally.Under Right to Buy there are financial restrictions in place for re-sale within 5 years, and councils have the right of first refusal to buy back the property for up to 10 years at market value.

Kingston upon Hull City Council

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 21 June 2016 to Question 40188, on Kingston upon Hull City Council, what the source is for the comment that the response from the Leader of Hull City Council was in response to a point made by the hon. Member for Kingston upon Hull North.

Greg Clark: I refer the hon. Member to her less than postive remarks about Hull on 8 February 2016, Official Report, column 1343.

Homelessness: Liverpool

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what proportion of the population of (a) Liverpool, Wavertree constituency and (b) the Liverpool City Region was homeless in each year since 2010.

Mr Marcus Jones: Statistics on the number of households accepted as homeless per 1,000 households, for each local authority in England, are published in Live Table 784. This table goes back to 2004/05 and is available at the link below:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-homelessnessWe do not collect information in parliamentary constituencies. Liverpool Wavertree constituency is part of Liverpool local authority. Liverpool City Region comprises the combined local authorities of Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, St. Helens, Sefton and Wirral.

Fracking: Lancashire

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will take into account the views of local communities and Lancashire County Council when deciding whether to reverse the council's decision not to allow fracking.

James Wharton: Decisions on recovered appeals are taken on the basis of the material considerations which are before the Secretary of State at the time of the decision, including material considerations put forward to the local planning authority at the time of the application.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

EU Staff

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many Government officials with trade negotiating skills are currently based in Brussels.

Mr Hugo Swire: There are currently over 40 civil servants across Government working as one team dedicated to trade policy, for example in the UK Permanent Representation to the EU in Brussels, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, the Department for International Development, and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. In addition, officials based in other government departments and agencies, whose roles are not trade specific, are regularly involved in working on trade-related issues as appropriate.

Palestinian Authority: Corruption

Mr Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his counterparts in (a) the USA and (b) the EU on corruption in the Palestinian authority.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: We have not had any discussions with US or EU counterparts on this issue.

China: Religious Freedom

Mr Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent representations he has made to the government of China on the persecution of Christians and other faith groups.

Mr Hugo Swire: We pay close attention to the human rights situation in China and remain concerned by all reports of restrictions to freedom of religion or belief and persecution of faith groups. The full range of our human rights concerns in China are set out in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s Annual Report on Human Rights and Democracy, most recently published on 21 April. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), has continued to raise concerns about the detention of human rights lawyers, a number of whom have represented clients who have been punished for exercising their freedom of religious belief. He did so with both Foreign Minister Wang Yi in January and President Zhou Qiang of the Supreme People’s Court last month.

Israel: Torture

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, with reference to paragraph 19 of the concluding observations on the fifth period report of Israel by the UN Committee against Torture, published in May 2015, what steps he is taking to encourage the Israeli government to adopt the recommendations of that committee relating to documentation of suspect interrogations.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: Our Embassy in Tel Aviv regularly raises our concerns about detention of Palestinians. These concerns were raised with the Israeli authorities most recently on 27 June. We continue to push for the implementation of measures such as the mandatory use of audio-visual recording of interrogations.

Israel: Torture

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to work with Israel to support the formulation of the criminal offence of torture in that country.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The UK is firmly committed to the promotion and protection of human rights in Israel and in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, as well as compliance with international humanitarian law. We regularly discuss implementation of those obligations with the Israeli authorities. We have confirmed with the Israeli authorities that Israel is in the process of incorporating the crime of torture into national legislation.

Israel: Detainees

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make representations to his Israeli counterpart on ending the practice of administrative detention in that country.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: Our Embassy in Tel Aviv regularly raises concerns about detention, including Israel's extensive use of administrative detention. These concerns were raised with the Israeli authorities most recently on 27 June. Administrative detention should, according to international law, be used only when security makes it absolutely necessary rather than as routine practice, and as a preventative rather than a punitive measure. We will continue to call on the Israeli authorities to comply with their obligations under international law, and either charge or release detainees.

Mohammad Faisal Abu Sakha

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps the British embassy in Tel-Aviv is taking to monitor the case of Palestinian circus performer Mohammad Faisal Abu Sakha.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: While we have not made representations regarding Mr Abu Sakha’s case, our officials in our Embassy in Tel Aviv monitor Israel's use of administrative detention and raise our concerns associated with its use with the Israeli authorities at regular intervals. These concerns were raised with the Israeli authorities most recently on 27 June.

Iran: Political Prisoners

Martyn Day: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the Iranian government on the alleged political imprisonment of orphanage worker Maryam Zaragaran.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: Whilst we have not specifically raised the case of Maryam Zargaran, we regularly raise our concerns on human rights issues, both in London and Tehran, including our concerns about the treatment of religious minorities. We call on Iran to cease harassment of all religious minorities and to fulfil its international and domestic obligations to allow freedom of religion to all Iranians.

Bahrain: Prisoners

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what his policy is on the extension of the prison sentence from four years to nine years of Sheikh Ali Salman in Bahrain; and what representations he has made to the government of Bahrain on that extension.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: We are concerned about the recent extension of the imprisonment of Al Wefaq’s Secretary-General, Sheikh Ali Salman. We continue to raise his case with the Government of Bahrain. I did so most recently on 2 June when I met with the Bahraini Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs at the biannual UK-Bahrain Joint Working Group meeting, and the Foreign Secretary, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond) did so most recently with his Bahraini counterpart, Sheikh Khalid Bin Ahmad Al Khalifa on 14 June 2016.

India: Shipping

Gavin Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what progress has been made on efforts to free the Seamen Guard Ohio crew.

Mr Hugo Swire: We continue to follow this case closely, raising it at Ministerial and Official level at every opportunity, as we have done since November 2013. The case has now been raised at Ministerial level 38 times since November 2013. The Prime Minister, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron) raised it for the fifth time in a letter to Prime Minister Modi in June. I raised the case in April with the Foreign Secretary of India while he was in London and most recently in May during my visit to India when accompanied by the British High Commissioner I also visited the men in prison. While we cannot interfere in the Indian legal process, we will continue to use every opportunity to raise the case at all levels.

Israel: Palestinians

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether UK Ministers plan to participate in discussions initiated by the French government on the Middle East peace process.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: I attended the French ministerial meeting on 3 June in Paris, where a joint communiqué was agreed. We remain in close contact with the French government about their plans for follow-up work and will make decisions about possible UK participation as further detail emerges.

Russia: Sanctions

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the UK leaving the EU on the (a) UK's and (b) EU's sanctions policy for Russia.

Mr David Lidington: Holding answer received on 07 July 2016



The UK has been at the forefront of international efforts – in the EU, NATO, G7 and OSCE – to hold Russia to account for its aggression in Ukraine, and will continue to do so. The European Council, like the G7, has agreed that sanctions are linked to full implementation of the Minsk agreements. The Government will continue to push for this commitment to be upheld. EU economic sanctions against Russia were recently extended by unanimity for a further six months, until 31 January 2017.

Northern Ireland Office

Borders: Ireland

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment her Department has made of the potential effect of the outcome of the EU referendum on arrangements at the border between Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Mrs Theresa Villiers: The Government is determined to do everything possible to get the best deal for all parts of the United Kingdom and to make sure that Northern Ireland’s interests are protected.I will work with the Irish Government on our close shared interest of keeping the open border for people and business.

UK Withdrawal from EU: Northern Ireland

Mr Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what administrative arrangements have been made within her Department to respond to the result of the EU referendum.

Mr Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what arrangements she plans to put in place to ensure the best possible co-ordination between her Department and the Northern Ireland Executive in response to the result of the EU referendum.

Mrs Theresa Villiers: The Government will make sure that the interests of all parts of our United Kingdom are protected and advanced as we prepare for negotiations to exit the EU.The Northern Ireland Executive, as well as other devolved administrations across the UK, will be fully involved in this process.A new civil service EU unit has been created to support this process, bringing together officials and policy expertise from across the Civil Service and reporting to the whole of Cabinet on delivering the outcome of the referendum.My officials will work closely with this team and with their counterparts in the Northern Ireland Civil Service and Irish Government officials.

Electoral Register: Northern Ireland

Tom Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment she has made of the potential effect of the proposed closures of electoral offices in Northern Ireland on voter registration and turnout.

Tom Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, with reference to the proposed closure of regional electoral offices in Northern Ireland, what steps she plans to take to ensure that all people in Northern Ireland will be able to continue to exercise their right to vote.

Mr Ben Wallace: No decisions have been taken about the future structure of the Electoral Office for Northern Ireland.A full public consultation will take place later this year and the views of all stakeholders will be fully considered as part of the consultation and policy development process.

Attorney General

Gurpal Virdi

Sir Peter Bottomley: To ask the Attorney General, pursuant to the Ministerial Correction of 24 June 2016 to Question 40180, on Gurpal Virdi, (a) when the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) became aware that the Metropolitan Police had documentary evidence of the age of the complainant arrested on 7 November 1986 by PC Markwick and (b) whether the CPS asked for a statement by the arresting officer.

Jeremy Wright: (a) The prosecution case was that Gurpal Virdi was the arresting officer. When the file was received from the police in November 2013, before charge, it contained a document which stated the date of birth of the complainant. (b) DC Markwick is named on the extract of the court’s memorandum of conviction dated 24 June 1987 in the section “name of informant or complainant”. The CPS did not request a statement from Mr Markwick. The prosecution case was that Gurpal Virdi was the arresting officer.

Gurpal Virdi

Sir Peter Bottomley: To ask the Attorney General, pursuant to the Ministerial Correction of 24 June 2016 to Question 40180, on Gurpal Virdi, how many statements of fact by the complainant were contradicted by (a) Tom Makins and (b) police or court records; and which police or court records confirmed the age of the complainant in November 1986.

Jeremy Wright: The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) does not consider it possible to answer questions (a) and (b) with a number because of the degree of interpretation required to determine what may amount to a “contradiction” and what may be described materially as a “statement of fact”.There are no contemporaneous documents from 1986. The memorandum of conviction, which is held in the form of a certified extract created some years later, contains the date of birth. The microfiche records, which are dated after 1986, also contain the date of birth.

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

Trade Agreements

Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, when the Government plans to enter into talks with non-EU countries on initiating free trade agreements.

Anna Soubry: This will ultimately be up to the new Prime Minister and their team to decide. However, I have been encouraged by the interest coming from a range of non-EU countries, including some of our closest allies.

Skilled Workers: Recruitment

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect of the UK leaving the EU on the ability of firms to recruit skilled workers.

Nick Boles: The Government is committed to ensuring that the UK remains open for business and continues to grow and thrive. On the domestic front we’re investing in boosting the skills of the workforce by increasing the quality and quantity of apprenticeships in England, to reach a commitment of 3 million new apprenticeship starts by 2020. An apprenticeship levy will be introduced from April 2017 to encourage employers to invest in the skills they need. But, as my Rt hon Friend the Prime Minister has said, there will be no immediate changes as a result of the EU referendum, including in the circumstances of EEA citizens living and working in the UK and our visa policies for non-EEA nationals. Ensuring our new relationship with the EU works for business and other employers is a priority for my Department in the months ahead.

Trade Agreements

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the Government's (a) expertise and (b) capacity to carry out trade deals as a result of the outcome of the EU referendum.

Anna Soubry: The Cabinet Office has established a new unit to oversee arrangements for the UK’s exit from the EU, after we have triggered Article 50. Until then, the UK remains a full member of the EU. The Government is reviewing trade policy, although the direction of future UK trade policy would be a matter for the new administration to consider once a new Prime Minister has been appointed.

EU Grants and Loans

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment the Government has made on the potential effect of the outcome of the EU referendum on EU development funding for the regions of England.

Anna Soubry: As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has made clear, while the UK remains a member of the EU, current EU funding arrangements continue unchanged. It will be for the Government under the new Prime Minister to begin the negotiation to leave, and set out arrangements for those currently in receipt of EU funds.

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills: Pay

Sarah Champion: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, (a) how much has been paid to officials of his Department as an additional incentive for working overtime on top of their normal overtime payments, (b) how much has been offered to any individual staff member for a one-off occurrence, (c) how many staff received such incentivised additional payments, (d) from which budgets such payments were made and (e) at which Ministerial or official level the business cases or payment approval for such payments was made in (i) each of the last five years and (ii) 2016 to date.

Joseph Johnson: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has not paid officials an incentive for working overtime on top of their normal overtime payments over the last five years.

Iron and Steel: Manufacturing Industries

Stephen Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what discussions he has had with representatives of the UK steel industry on the implications of the outcome of the EU referendum for that industry; and what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies on support for the steel industry of the outcome of the EU referendum.

Anna Soubry: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

New Businesses: Females

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many women started businesses in (a) Liverpool, Wavertree constituency, (b) the Liverpool City Region and (c) England in each year since 2010.

Anna Soubry: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Business: Females

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what support his Department provides to female entrepreneurs in (a) Liverpool, Wavertree constituency, (b) the Liverpool City Region and (c) England.

Anna Soubry: We are working to ensure we have the right business support for everyone, including women, to set up and grow a business. Start-Up Loans provide funding and intensive support to new entrepreneurs (39% of Start‑Up Loans have been awarded to women). There are 39 Growth Hubs across England and the Government has provided funding to Liverpool City Region to support development of a business growth hub that provides support to help businesses start-up and grow. The Business Support Helpline also provides information and guidance to people across England - 45% of users in the last year (April 2015-16) were women. In 2015 the Global Entrepreneurship Development Institute ranked the UK as the best country in Europe for female entrepreneurs.

Trade Agreements

Deidre  Brock: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the UK leaving the EU on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership and other international trade negotiations.

Anna Soubry: While the UK is still a member of the EU, all rights and obligations will apply. We continue to support the EU’s trade agenda and the UK will participate constructively in EU decision making on trade issues. We are taking stock of our position with regard to the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership and other trade negotiations.

Digital Technology: EU Internal Trade

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what plans he has to negotiate access to the Digital Single Market for British online retailers.

Mr Edward Vaizey: As my Rt hon Friend the Prime Minister has said, the negotiation with the European Union will need to begin under a new Prime Minister, who will take the decision about when to trigger article 50 and start the formal and legal process of leaving the European Union. Ministers will work closely with the new Prime Minister to set out the priorities for these negotiations.

Digital Technology

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what estimate he has made of the cost to the economy of the (a) UK and (b) North East of the UK leaving the EU and businesses being unable to access the Digital Single Market.

Mr Edward Vaizey: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has not made such an assessment. As my Rt hon Friend the Prime Minister has said, the negotiation with the European Union will begin under a new Prime Minister, who will take the decision about when to trigger article 50 and start the formal and legal process of leaving the European Union. We will work closely with the new Prime Minister to set out the priorities for these negotiations.

Digital Technology

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps he is taking to ensure that digital consumer rights are not lost in the process of the UK leaving the EU.

Mr Edward Vaizey: Consumer rights for the purchase of digital content are not regulated at EU level at present. In the UK the Consumer Rights Act 2015 provides UK consumers with bespoke consumer rights when buying digital content.

Manufacturing Industries: North East

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what meetings he has had with manufacturers in the North East on the (a) immediate effect of the result of the EU referendum and (b) short to long-term effects of the UK leaving the EU.

Anna Soubry: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Employment: North East

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps he is taking to protect employment levels in the North East from the potential (a) immediate effect of the UK voting to leave the UK and (b) the short to long-term effect of the UK leaving the EU.

Anna Soubry: The employment rate for the country as a whole is at a record high. Government is committed to ensuring that UK remains open for business, and continues to grow and thrive. The North East continues to have a positive balance of trade, with links to the global market as well as into the European Union. Government will continue to work with the North East Local Enterprise Partnership to deliver its Strategic Economic Plan, ‘More and Better Jobs’, which aims to build prosperity in the North East by increasing the skills base and creating more businesses.

Written Questions: Government Responses

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, when he expects to answer Question 39267, tabled by the hon. Member for Brighton, Pavilion on 3 June 2016.

Nick Boles: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Trade Agreements: Wales

Stephen Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, whether officials from the Welsh Government have been identified to take part in the establishment of expanded trade negotiation functions in his Department as a result of the outcome of the EU referendum.

Anna Soubry: The Cabinet Office has established a new unit to deliver the outcome of the referendum, exploring options for our future relationship with Europe. As my Rt hon Friend the Prime Minister has said, it will be important to ensure that the interests of all parts of the United Kingdom are protected and advanced in our negotiations.

Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement

Stephen Gethins: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, whether the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement will be considered an exclusive competence of the EU.

Anna Soubry: The European Commission has recently taken the decision to propose the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) as a “mixed agreement” consisting of both EU and Member State competence. This means that CETA can only take full effect once the UK has decided to ratify it. As part of that ratification process, the complete draft text of the agreement would be laid before Parliament for 21 sitting days. In addition, the Government will ensure the proposals for a Council decision on signature, and subsequent conclusion, will be subject to scrutiny in both Houses of the UK Parliament.

Members: Correspondence

Mr David Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will take steps to ensure that the hon. Member for Walsall North receives a reply to his letter of 3 May 2016 to the Chief Executive of the Medical Research Council on behalf of a constituent.

Joseph Johnson: I am advised by the Medical Research Council (MRC) that the reply has now been issued to the hon Member. The MRC apologise for the delay and inconvenience caused to the hon Member and his constituent.

Department for International Development

Syria: Refugees

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what proportion of the total budget for the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Relocation scheme will be funded by her Department; and if she will make a statement.

Sir Desmond Swayne: The UK is at the forefront of the response to the Syria crisis. UK support is reaching hundreds of thousands of people affected in Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, Iraq and Egypt. The UK has pledged over £2.3 billion, our largest ever response to a single humanitarian crisis. Spending money in the region builds people’s ability to cope where they are. For most refugees, their first choice is to stay close to home, and to return to Syria.Through the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Relocation scheme, the UK is helping some of the most vulnerable refugees who cannot be supported effectively in the region and whose needs can only be met in countries like the UK. We will resettle up to 20,000 Syrians in need of protection during this Parliament. We are working closely with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees to identify vulnerable Syrians that they deem in need of resettlement, using their established vulnerability criteria.However, given the scale of displacement in the Middle East and with many millions of people in need, it is essential to provide assistance to those most in need in the region and actively seeking an end to the crisis. Compared with aid, resettlement can only ever support a comparatively small number of people in need.Home Office are responsible for the overall programme budget.

Overseas Aid

Stephen Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department is taking to identify potential recipients of overseas development assistance currently given to (a) the European Development Fund, (b) the European Commission Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection department and (c) the European Investment Bank as a result of the outcome of the EU referendum.

Mr Nick Hurd: As the Prime Minister has made clear, while the UK remains a member of the EU, current EU funding arrangements continue unchanged. It will be for the Government under the new Prime Minister to begin the negotiation to leave, and set out arrangements for those currently in receipt of EU funds.

Department for Education

Pupils: Languages

William Wragg: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what were the 10 foreign languages most spoken by pupils for whom English is listed as an additional language in the annual school census in (a) 2000 and (b) 2015; and how many pupils were recorded as speaking each of those languages in each of those years.

Nick Gibb: Holding answer received on 09 June 2016



The Department does not hold pupil level data on languages for the year 2000. In the January 2015 school census, the most common languages to which pupils of compulsory school age and above are exposed outside school and the number and proportion of pupils exposed to them are given in the table below.LanguageNumber of Pupils (1)Percentage of all pupilsEnglish5,634,34982.1Urdu123,5301.8Panjabi91,4061.3Polish90,5061.3Other than English (not specified)84,1391.2Bengali74,6351.1Somali46,3610.7Arabic41,9510.6Gujarati40,7350.6Portuguese29,7590.4Tamil29,6340.4Believed to be other than English (not specified)29,2210.4French26,2900.4Source: School Census January 2015(1) Includes sole and dual main registered pupils of compulsory school age and above. Includes pupils in all state-funded schools excluding general hospital schools and local authority alternative provision. The languages recorded in the school census only indicate a pupil’s exposure to a non-English language outside of school. They are not a measure of English speaking proficiency, an indication of the language spoken in school, or a direct measure of immigration.

Academies: Gloucestershire

Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will provide emergency funding to academies in Gloucestershire while the review of education funding is pending to cover additional costs associated with changes in the level of (a) teachers' pay, (b) national insurance contributions and (c) pension costs; and if she will make a statement.

Mr Sam Gyimah: We remain committed to introducing a national funding formula from 2017, so that schools can start benefitting from fairer funding as soon as possible. This reform will mean the money the Government is investing in education is better matched to need, and that school leaders have more certainty about their funding over the longer term. As well as making funding fairer we are supporting schools with tools and guidance to improve their financial health, so they can manage their budgets effectively and keep driving up standards.

Children: Day Care

Mr Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many (a) childcare places are available for three and four year olds and (b) eligible children there are in (i) England and (ii) Copeland constituency.

Mr Sam Gyimah: The latest statistics providing the number of three and four year old children benefitting from some funded early education provision can be found online within Table 2LA at:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/education-provision-children-under-5-years-of-age-january-2016 Figures are available at national and local authority level. Information at constituency level is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. All three and four year old children are entitled to a funded early education place. The proportion benefitting is calculated using population estimates[1] derived from mid-year estimates and projections provided by the Office for National Statistics. As at December 2015, the estimated number of three and four year old children in England was 1,412,500 and in Cumbria local authority was 10,300. The proportion of three and four year old children in receipt of some funded early education provision can be found online within Table 5LA at the link above. Figures are available at national and local authority level. Information at constituency level is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. [1] Population estimates at lower geographic levels, such as local authority, are subject to a greater degree of error. In some cases, local authority take-up rates can exceed 100%. Therefore, take-up rates at local authority level should be treated with more caution than national take-up rates.

Religion: Education

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the process is for (a) ensuring that religious education is taught to all pupils in all schools and (b) reporting schools that are not teaching religious education.

Nick Gibb: Religious education (RE) is compulsory in all state-funded schools, including academies and free schools. As part of Ofsted school inspections, inspectors consider whether schools are providing a broad and balanced curriculum, which meets pupils’ needs and statutory requirements. If it becomes evident during the course of an inspection that a school is not teaching RE, this should be reflected in the school’s inspection report. Faith schools are required to arrange a separate inspection of denominational religious education and collective worship, leading to published reports. Every school must have a complaint procedure. If an individual is concerned that a school is not teaching religious education, they should follow the schools’ complaint procedure in the first instance. If the complaint is not resolved, then the issue can be escalated to the Department’s School Complaints Unit for maintained schools, or the Education Funding Agency for academies, free schools, university technical colleges or studio schools. Information about complaint procedures for schools can be found at www.gov.uk/complain-about-school.

Children: Day Care

Mr Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to ring-fence the funding rate paid to providers of free childcare for eligible three and four year olds.

Mr Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when her Department expects to confirm to childcare providers the rates to be paid to them when delivering 30 hours free childcare per week for three and four year olds.

Mr Sam Gyimah: We have already announced increased annual investment of £1 billion for the early years entitlements within the ring-fenced Dedicated Schools Grant by 2019-20, which includes £300 million per year from 2017-18 to uplift the average funding rate paid to providers. The increase to the funding rate is based on robust evidence from the Review of the Cost of Childcare. We have made clear our commitment to maximise the amount of this funding which reaches frontline childcare providers, and will consult on proposals for achieving this as part of our consultation on early years funding reform later this year. Local authorities, in consultation with their Schools Forum, are responsible for deciding how best to distribute the early years entitlement funding across their locality. They also set their own local rates of funding for their early years providers.

Children: Day Care

Mr Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the ability of childcare providers in (a) England and (b) Copeland constituency to provide the additional hours necessary to extend free childcare for three and four year olds.

Mr Sam Gyimah: The Government is committed to delivering on its manifesto commitment to extend the current free childcare entitlement for working parents of three-and four-year-olds from 15 to 30 hours per week. We are working with local authorities and the childcare sector and providing the support that providers will need to offer the extended entitlement from September 2017. The Department recently completed the most comprehensive analysis of the childcare market to understand the funding that providers will need to deliver the extended entitlement. The review of childcare costs was published in November 2015 and can be viewed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/479659/151124_Analytical_review_FINAL_VERSION.pdf. The review informed the increase in the funding rate to providers that was announced in November’s Spending Review. We will be investing an extra £1 billion per year in the free early years entitlements by 2019/20, including £300 million per year to increase the national average funding rate. This is a generous deal for providers and funds them adequately for delivering the entitlement. The childcare sector has shown its ability to meet increased demand; Laing and Buisson’s 2014 nursery market report estimated that the UK children’s day care market is now almost one third larger than it was a decade ago. To support continued growth, the Department is investing at least £50 million of capital funding to create additional early years places, and we are removing unnecessary red tape to enable providers to seek investment to expand their businesses. The recently launched capital grants fund will support the delivery of the 30 hours extended entitlement coming into effect from September 2017. Funding of around £40 million is being made available to early years settings, including schools, through a local authority bidding process. Cumbria County Council submitted an EOI in relation to the early years capital funding and providers in Copeland are therefore eligible to apply to the current funding process. We will expect local authorities to work in close partnership with providers when submitting their bids to ensure that the projects submitted have a clear need for capital funding and are able to fully evidence how they will address the sufficiency need identified in the local authority area.

Classroom Assistants: Training

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many teaching assistants have been trained by local authorities in each year since 2010.

Nick Gibb: The information is not available in the format requested. Statistics showing the number of teaching assistants employed in service in state funded schools in England in each year since 2010 are available from Table 1 in the statistical first release ‘School Workforce in England, November 2015’ available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/school-workforce-in-england-november-2015

Classroom Assistants

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many teaching assistants were employed in schools in each year since 2010.

Nick Gibb: Statistics showing the number of teaching assistants in service in state funded schools in England in each year since 2010 are available from Table 1 in the statistical first release ‘School Workforce in England, November 2015’ available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/school-workforce-in-england-november-2015

Ministry of Justice

Social Security Benefits: Merseryside

Conor McGinn: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many decisions taken  on claims for (a) employment and support allowance and (b) personal independence payments have been appealed in (i) St Helens North constituency and (ii) Merseyside in each of the last five years; and how many of those appeals have been successful.

Mr Shailesh Vara: HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) does not hold accurate information on the volumes of appeals received against claims for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and Personal Independence Payment (PIP), as not all appeals relate to claims. Information about the volumes and outcomes of appeals to the Tribunal is published at:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/tribunals-and-gender-recognition-certificate-statistics-quarterly-january-to-march-2016. The information provided below is a further breakdown of this data. The tables below provide information on the number of appeals against decisions taken on ESA and PIP claims that were found in favour of the appellant, that were heard at (i) the Tribunal venue at St Helens1 which serves appellants living in the St Helens North constituency and other nearby locations; and (ii) Merseyside2.ESA claims (excluding reassessment decisions) 2011-122012-132013-142014-152015-16St Helens104516083115Merseyside21,7221,7743,0838811,401 PIP3 claims (excluding reassessment decisions) 2011-122012-132013-142014-152015-16St Helens1000062Merseyside20010191726 1 St Helens venue serves appellants living in St Helens North constituency and other nearby locations.2 Merseyside includes appeals heard at HMCTS SSCS venues in Liverpool, St Helens and Birkenhead. 3PIP started to replace Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for people aged 16 to 64 from 8 April 2013. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the data, the details are subject to inaccuracies inherent in any large-scale case management system

Prison Sentences

Michelle Donelan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, for what reasons the abolition of section 225 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 was not applied retrospectively for prisoners serving sentences for imprisonment for public protection.

Dominic Raab: Generally, sentences already imposed are not substantively altered by subsequent legislation. The coalition government considered that it would not be right, or appropriate, to alter retrospectively sentences that had been lawfully imposed, particularly because in this case those sentences were imposed with public protection issues in mind. Consequently, once prisoners serving sentences of imprisonment for public protection have served their minimum term they are not released on licence until the Parole Board judges it safe to so. The number of IPP prisoners has reduced over the past year. However, the Justice Secretary has asked the Chairman of the Parole Board to see what further improvements could be made in the approach to handling these offenders. We continue to prioritise IPP prisoners for places on courses and provide other interventions to help them reduce their risk and progress towards release.

Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission

Scottish Parliament: Elections

Steven Paterson: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, if the Electoral Commission will make an assessment of the effect of extending the franchise for Scottish Parliament elections to 16 and 17 year olds on the level of youth engagement in the electoral process.

Mr Gary Streeter: The Commission is currently collecting information to inform its statutory report on the Scottish Parliament elections. The report will include information about turnout and participation among 16- and 17-year-olds.The report will also identify any conclusions which can be drawn from comparison with turnout and participation at previous polls, particularly the 2014 referendum.

Church Commissioners

World War I: Anniversaries

Jim Shannon: To ask the right hon. Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners, whether the Church of England has plans for educational projects to commemorate the First World War in addition to existing centenary events.

Mrs Caroline Spelman: The Church of England has led many of the commemorative events for the First World War at a local and national level. It would not be possible to list all the activities taking place now and in the future to commemorate the sacrifice of those who fought in the First World War, but each diocese and parish is marking the centenary in its own way.A number of dioceses have produced their own resources for use in schools, and in children and youth groups (an example from the Diocese of Derby is here: http://www.derby.anglican.org/en/resources/ww1/educational-resources/educational-resources-1.html ). Church schools have made creative use of local and family history stories, and organised visits to battlefields and cemeteries, to bring the experiences of those who fought in the War vividly to life.Parishes have also used churches and war memorials to highlight the service and sacrifice of local people in the First World War. Often working alongside the War Memorials Trust, parishes have taken part in the repair, restoration and cleaning of war memorials, with many recording the names and researching the service histories of those commemorated.

Human Trafficking

Jim Shannon: To ask the right hon. Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners, what steps are being taken by the Church of England to tackle human trafficking.

Mrs Caroline Spelman: In March 2014 the Archbishop of Canterbury, with Pope Francis and other global faith leaders, gave their backing to the Global Freedom Network (www.globalfreedomnetwork.org), a ground breaking ecumenical initiative to combat modern slavery and human trafficking. The Archbishop is planning an international conference in 2017 with the Ecumenical Patriarch. The Bishop of Derby has also been at the forefront of work to tackle human trafficking and modern slavery for the Church of England. He has been part of the Santa Martha Process (which looks to improve collaboration between churches and police in the detection of instances of human trafficking) and has developed strategies in his diocese to combat human trafficking and modern slavery. The Church of England will launch The Clewer Initiative against Modern Day Slavery this autumn. It will provide English dioceses and parishes with strategies for the combating of modern slavery and guidance on how to assist in the provision of victim support and care. The initiative is intended to build on existing capacity and the assistance to dioceses and church networks will be carefully tailored to their specific contexts and needs.

Ministry of Defence

Nuclear Weapons

Mr Ronnie Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many nuclear warheads the UK currently retains.

Mr Philip Dunne: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 8 June 2016 to Question 39116 to the hon. Member for Islington South and Finsbury (Emily Thornberry).



Nuclear Disarmament
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NATO

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect of the outcome of the EU referendum on the UK's role in NATO.

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment the Government has made of the effect of the outcome of the EU referendum on the UK's ability to work with allies in Syria and Iraq to fight Daesh.

Mr Julian Brazier: We remain committed to operations and missions around the world as a strong and reliable ally. We will continue to play our part in countering Daesh; working with allies and partners on migration operations in the Aegean and Mediterranean; and supporting nations such as Afghanistan in their fight against terrorism.We will continue to be a leading member of NATO; we are a permanent member of the UN Security Council; a member of the Commonwealth, the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Northern Group in Europe, the Five Power Defence Arrangements in the Far East, and the Five Eyes arrangements; and, we have strong and valued bilateral relationships in the Defence and security field with countries around the world. The EU Referendum does not change this.

Armed Forces: Census

Danny Kinahan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent discussions he has had with the Royal British Legion on their Count Them In campaign.

Mark Lancaster: The Ministry of Defence supports the aspiration of the Royal British Legion to include questions on the Armed Forces Community in the 2021 Census. In June 2016 I wrote to the National Statistician to formally request a review of the decision not to include such questions in the 2021 Census. I explained that an ability to identify veterans through direct questioning would provide data that is detailed enough to allow local authorities, Government Departments and other public bodies to meet their Armed Forces Covenant obligations and design and measure local interventions for veterans. At the same time I wrote to the Royal British Legion on behalf of the Secretary of State and the Service Chiefs to explain that Defence considers the inclusion of a veterans marker in the 2021 Census to be the best way to provide an accurate benchmark for the veteran community. Defence Ministers have not met with the Royal British Legion to discuss this issue.I welcome the Office for National Statistics' decision to set up a working group to look into the legal, methodological and process obstacles currently standing in the way of data sharing and data linking across Government. Data sharing has the potential to fill in some gaps in our knowledge of the veterans' community, although it remains our position that an accurate baseline could only be obtained through the inclusion of a veterans' marker in the 2021 Census.

Military Bases: Northwood

Stephen Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the implications of the outcome of the EU referendum for the EU Maritime Headquarters at Northwood.

Mr Julian Brazier: It will take us time to work through all of the implications. There will be no immediate changes, and we will remain committed to NATO, EU, UN, and National operations and missions around the world as a strong and reliable ally.

Ministry of Defence: Pay

Sarah Champion: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, (a) how much has been paid to officials of his Department as an additional incentive for working overtime on top of their normal overtime payments, (b) how much has been offered to any individual staff member for a one-off occurrence, (c) how many staff received such incentivised additional payments, (d) from which budgets such payments were made and (e) at which Ministerial or official level the business cases or payment approval for such payments was made in (i) each of the last five years and (ii) 2016 to date.

Mark Lancaster: The Ministry of Defence pays overtime to civilian staff below the Senior Civil Service in exceptional circumstances only, with advance agreement from an appropriate senior official. Senior Civil Servants are not eligible to claim any paid overtime. Additional incentives for working overtime are not paid.As part of this Government's transparency agenda, all Departments are required to publish workforce statistics, including overtime costs. This information is available from the gov.uk website at:https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/workforce-management-information-mod

Department for Work and Pensions

Pension Protection Fund

James Cartlidge: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Answers of 29 January 2016 to Question 23225 and of 28 April 2016 to Question 35312, what progress his Department has made on bringing forward changes to secondary legislation provisions of the Pensions Act 2014 relating to Pension Protection Fund capping.

Justin Tomlinson: Before the long service cap can be implemented a number of changes need to be made to secondary legislation, so that it will operate as intended in all cases. While progress is being made in deveoping this legislation, we cannot at this time commit to a particular implementation date which, in any case, would be subject to the wishes of Parliament.

Social Security Benefits: Disability

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what guidance he has issued to officials of his Department on processing disability benefit claims from people who are on the organ transplant waiting list.

Justin Tomlinson: Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assesses how the condition affects the individual, not the condition itself. The average clearance time for PIP new claims is 13 weeks from the point of registration to a decision being made. PIP claims for terminally ill claimants who are not expected to live for more than six months are fast-tracked and processed within an average of 6 working days.

Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit: Asbestos

Mhairi Black: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of implementing a single asbestos disease-related benefit.

Mhairi Black: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if his Department will take steps to reduce the number of forms associated with asbestos-related benefits.

Justin Tomlinson: Under the Industrial Injuries Scheme people suffering from various dust-related diseases, including asbestos, may be able to receive a weekly disablement benefit, and can also apply for a lump sum payment. The Government believes this is the right approach, recognising a range of different circumstances, and taking account of life expectancy. The Department is currently developing an online service for Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit. Initially this is for accident claims but it is intended to include industrial diseases at a later stage, providing service improvements and reducing the number of forms.

Employment: Young People

Conor McGinn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans the Government has to provide funding for youth employment in the North West in the event of funding currently received from the EU Youth Employment Initiative being withdrawn.

Justin Tomlinson: As the Prime Minister has made clear, while the UK remains a member of the EU, current EU funding arrangements continue unchanged. It will be for the Government under the new Prime Minister to begin the negotiation to leave, and set out arrangements for those currently in receipt of EU funds.

Local Housing Allowance: Supported Housing

Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the potential savings to the public purse from applying the Local Housing Allowance cap to supported housing; and whether he has carried out an impact assessment for that policy.

Justin Tomlinson: This policy is still under development and full impact and equality impact assessments will be undertaken in due course.This measure is not being introduced until April 2018 and only then where new tenancies have been taken out or existing tenancies renewed from 1 April 2016, (or 1 April 2017 for supported housing).

Children: Poverty

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department plans to publish child poverty statistics at a regional level.

Priti Patel: This Government is committed to tackling disadvantage and extending opportunity so that everyone has the chance to realise their full potential. Our life chances approach will focus on tackling the root causes of poverty such as worklessness, educational attainment and family stability.The Department for Work and Pensions recently published the 2014/15 Households Below Average Income (HBAI) statistics on 28th June 2016 alongside supporting data tables. Table 4.6db provides a regional breakdown of children in relative low income households, before and after housing costs. The latest estimates are shown as a three-year average over 2012/13-2014/15. These are available at:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/households-below-average-income-199495-to-201415.

Children: Poverty

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment he has made of the effect of the introduction of universal credit on the number of children living in (a) absolute and (b) relative poverty.

Priti Patel: The Government is committed to eliminating child poverty and improving life chances for children. We know that work is the best route out of poverty, and Universal Credit is designed to strengthen incentives for parents to move into and progress in work. Evidence shows claimants move into work significantly faster and earn more than under the current system. In addition, Universal Credit now provides for 85% of childcare costs meaning more support for hardworking families.

Social Security Benefits

Dr Eilidh Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will publish updated mortality statistics for employment and support allowance, incapacity benefit and severe disablement allowance.

Priti Patel: The Department has no plans to update these statistics.

Attendance Allowance

Dawn Butler: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the timetable is for the consultation on attendance allowance.

Justin Tomlinson: The consultation “Self-sufficient local government: 100% business rates retention”, published 5 July 2016, reiterates that the Government will consider giving more responsibility to councils in England to support older people with care needs – including people who, under the current system, would be supported through Attendance Allowance. Any new policy would protect existing claimants, and any new responsibilities would be matched by the transfer of equivalent spending power. The consultation “Self-sufficient local government: 100% business rates retention” closes at 12.00am on 26 September 2016, and is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/self-sufficient-local-government-100-business-rates-retentionThis is an open consultation and all interested parties are invited to respond. The Government would consult further in good time if changes are proposed.

Employment and Support Allowance: Hove

Peter Kyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many employment and support allowance claimants living in Hove constituency were reimbursed for travel to Brighton Assessment Centre in 2015.

Priti Patel: 122 people from Hove (the BN3 postcode) made travel expense claims for attending assessments at Brighton Assessment Centre between 1 January and 19 November 2015.

Personal Independence Payment

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of personal independence payment claims which a tribunal ruled should be paid are reinstated within six to eight weeks.

Justin Tomlinson: We do not hold the information you have requested, and this could only be collected and provided at a disproportionate cost.

Personal Independence Payment

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average time taken is for a personal independence payment claim to resume after the claimant has successfully challenged a stop to their claim; what administrative stages his Department undertakes before resuming such payments; and what steps he is taking to ensure that the time taken to resume such payments is within service standards.

Justin Tomlinson: We do not hold the information requested about the average time taken, and this could only be collected and provided at a disproportionate cost. In response to an Appeal decision the administrative stages for Personal Independence Payment are aligned with other benefits, and are summarised below: Following the appeal ruling, and receipt of the case papers back into the Department, an appeals case manager reviews the case and the appeal decision. Where the decision is accepted the appeal case manager will then progress to put the case into payment, including any arrears. This involves contacting the claimant to gather payment details if they are not held; and checking for any changes in circumstances that may affect the award amount - for example admission to hospital if the claimant is not currently receiving any payments. Where the decision is not accepted (that is, an appeals case manager identifies there has been a potential error in law) they will request a Statement of Reasons from the Tribunal Chairman. This must be requested by the Department within one month of receiving the appeal decision. Once the Statement of Reasons is received it is reviewed by the appeals case manager together with the case papers, who considers if a challenge to an Upper Tier Tribunal is appropriate. This must happen within one month of receiving the Statement of Reasons. There is no specific internal timeframe but we aim to deal with outcome decisions from PIP Appeals as quickly as possible.

Attendance Allowance

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether people claiming attendance allowance can access Motability.

Justin Tomlinson: As Attendance Allowance awards are based on the need for care or supervision and not on mobility they do not give entitlement to the Motability scheme. This is also the case for the daily living component of PIP and the care component of DLA.

Department for Culture, Media and Sport

Television: Licensing

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of requiring at least 50 per cent of the licence fees raised in each region to be spent in that region on programme commissioning.

Mr Edward Vaizey: The recently published White Paper addresses concerns that were raised during our public consultation by the devolved nations and some English regions. The Government has made detailed proposals which ensure that the BBC is accountable to licence fee payers in all nations and regions in the UK through a clear focus on the BBC’s obligations in the new operating licence regime, clear board-level responsibilities, and a continued commitment to the out-of-London production targets.Budgeting and commissioning decisions are editorial matters for the BBC.

Information Commissioner: Pay

Martyn Day: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether he has made representations to the Information Commissioner's Office management and directors on ensuring that terms of pay and conditions for staff of that office are being upheld and that wage increases are proportionate for all staff; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Edward Vaizey: Under the terms of the Framework Agreement between the ICO and the DCMS, the Information Commissioner has responsibility for determining the pay and conditions of their staff, including their Executive Team. In doing this, they are required to comply with overarching government pay guidance, including on pay restraint.The July 2015 budget announced an average 1% pay award for public sector workforces from 2016/17. This is set out in Civil Service Pay Guidance, which is issued each year following negotiations with the Trade Unions.Pay restraint is one of the many difficult choices the Government has had to make to put the public finances back on track and makes a significant contribution to protecting jobs and maintaining public services.

Home Office

GMB: Correspondence

Mr David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she plans to reply to letters from the GMB trades union National Secretary, Mick Rix, on the outsourcing of jobs at British Airways and use of tier 2 visas; and if she will make a statement.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office has received letters from Mr Rix and intends to respond in due course. It is a decision for businesses whether to outsource certain functions. We have, however, responded to concerns that use of the Tier 2 (Intra-Company Transfer (ICT)) route may undercut or displace resident workers. On 24 March we announced that we will simplify and streamline the route in line with our international trade commitments to admit senior managers and specialists. From April 2017, all transferees (other than limited numbers of graduate trainees) will be required to qualify under a single visa category with a minimum salary of £41,500.

Hate Crime: Greater London

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many instances of (a) religious and (b) hate crime were reported to the police in London in each of the last five years.

Karen Bradley: The Home Office has collected information from police forces in England and Wales on the number of hate crimes recorded by the police since 2011/12. Data for religious hate crime and total crime measured across the five monitored strands (religion, race, sexual orientation, disability and transgender) are given in the attached table.Data for 2015/16 are due to be published in October 2016.As stated by the Office for National Statistics, action taken by police forces to improve their compliance with the National Crime Recording Standard has led to improved recording of crime over recent years, especially for violence against the person offences. Together with a greater awareness of hate crime, and improved willingness of victims to come forward, this is likely to be a factor in the increase in hate crimes recorded by the police shown in the table.This Government is committed to tackling hate crime. The UK has one of the strongest legislative frameworks in the world to tackle hate crime. We are working across Government with police, (including National Community Tensions Team), the Crown Prosecution Service and community partners to send out a clear message that hate crime will not be tolerated and we will vigorously pursue and prosecute those who commit these crimes. 



Hate crimes recorded
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Common Travel Area: Republic of Ireland

Deidre  Brock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the potential effect of the UK leaving the EU on cooperation with Ireland on matters under the Joint Statement Regarding Co-Operation on Measures to Secure the External Common Travel Area Border.

James Brokenshire: The Common Travel Area (CTA) arrangement pre-dates the EU and we remain committed to it. In recent days the Prime Minister and the Taoiseach have reiterated their intention for both countries to work together to maintain the CTA. A meeting between UK and Ireland senior officials has taken place, reinforcing the excellent government and operational level cooperation that already exists.

Refugees: Europe

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the effect of the outcome of the EU referendum on the Government's role in (a) tackling the refugee crisis in Europe and (b) Operation Sophia in the Mediterranean.

James Brokenshire: The Government remains committed to its leading role in working with the international community to tackle the migration crisis. The UK remains a member of the EU until negotiations are concluded and nothing changes overnight as a result of the referendum. We will maintain our contribution to Operation Sophia.

Aviation: EU Countries

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to advise people in the UK of their continuing rights to travel freely within the EU.

James Brokenshire: The Government has been clear that there will be no immediate changes in the circumstances of European nationals entering or currently residing in the UK.

Immigrants: Health Services

Martyn Day: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the effect of the immigration health surcharge for visa applications on the number of visas applied for; how much funding has been raised by that surcharge since its introduction; and if she will make a statement.

James Brokenshire: There is no evidence to suggest that there has been a reduction in visa applications as a result of the introduction of the Immigration Health Surcharge.A summary of Immigration Health Surcharge income collected during 2015-16 will be published shortly in the Home Office annual report and accounts.

Refugees: Syria

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the number of refugees that her Department plans to relocate to Coventry under the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Relocation Scheme in each of the next 12 months.

Richard Harrington: This is a voluntary scheme whereby local authorities sign up to accept refugees on a voluntary basis. We have asked authorities to think very carefully to ensure they have the infrastructure and support networks needed to deliver the appropriate care and integration of these refugees they plan to resettle.The number of people resettled in a particular period will depend on a range of factors. This includes the number of referrals we have received from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the number of confirmed places we have received from local authorities that are suitable for the specific needs of those who have been accepted for resettlement. Progress on resettlement will be reported in quarterly immigration statistics.

Undocumented Migrants

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent estimate she has made of the number of illegal immigrants in the UK; and if she will make a statement.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Refugees: Syria

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the number of people who will be relocated through the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Relocation scheme in the next 12 months; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Harrington: We are continuing to work productively with local authorities and International Partners to deliver the Government’s commitment to resettle 20,000 Syrian refugees by the end of this Parliament. We are on track to do this. The number resettled in a particular period will depend on a range of factors. This includes the number of referrals we have received from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the number of confirmed places we have received from local authorities that are suitable for the specific needs of those who have been accepted for resettlement. Progress on resettlement will be indicated in quarterly immigration statistics.

Agriculture: Migrant Workers

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has made an assessment of the effect of the abolition of the Agricultural Wages Board in 2013 on the proportion of migrants working in the agricultural sector; and if she will make a statement.

James Brokenshire: The Migration Advisory Committee’s report of May 2013 on the impact on the horticultural sector of ending the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme made a full assessment of the factors, including earnings, driving the supply of, and demand for, migrant labour in the industry

Undocumented Migrants

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the systems for measuring levels of illegal immigration in other countries; and whether such systems could be applied to the UK; and if she will make a statement.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office published a report as part of the European Migration Network work programme entitled ‘Practical Measures for Reducing Irregular Migration’ (Toms and Thorpe, 2012) which discusses the various measures available to estimate illegal migration in the UK.The report is available from the following link:http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/home-affairs/what-we-do/networks/european_migration_network/reports/docs/emn-studies/irregular-migration/uk_20120402_practicalmeasuresforreducingirregularmigration_final_en.pdf

Undocumented Migrants

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of reports from members of the public on possible illegal immigration have (a) been investigated and (b) resulted in enforcement action in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

HM Treasury

Railways: South Wales

Stephen Doughty: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the Government intends to replace or substitute any loss of funding to the Welsh Government for the South Wales Metro as a result of the outcome of the EU referendum.

Mr David Gauke: As the Prime Minister has made clear, while the UK remains a member of the EU, current EU funding arrangements continue unchanged. It will be for the government under the new Prime Minister to begin the negotiation to exit the EU and set out the arrangements they will put in place for those currently in receipt of EU funds.

Insurance: Regulation

Conor McGinn: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect of the UK leaving the EU on the (a) regulation of the insurance industry and (b) implementation of the Solvency II Directive.

Harriett Baldwin: Action taken by the Government and the Bank of England over the last six years has substantially strengthened the resilience of the financial system, and the authorities have all the necessary tools in place to protect financial stability. Following the referendum result, the Government must now prepare for a negotiation to exit the EU to ensure that the interests of all parts of the UK are protected and advanced. I want us to agree an economic relationship with the rest of Europe that provides for the best possible terms of trade in financial services, including insurance. The Prime Minister has been clear that the negotiation for Britain’s future relationship with Europe will begin under a new Prime Minister. In the meantime, and during the negotiations that follow, there will be no change to the way that insurance is sold or regulated. Much financial regulation currently applicable in the UK derives from EU legislation, including Solvency II. Until negotiations are concluded, we remain a full member of the EU and must meet our obligations as a member of the EU.

Banks: Regulation

Conor McGinn: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect of the UK leaving the EU on the transposition of the Basel III reform measures into UK law.

Harriett Baldwin: The Government continues to support the need for international standards, such as the capital framework developed by the international Basel Committee on Banking Standards. These are important to ensure both financial stability and a level playing field for the UK’s world-leading financial services industry. The Prime Minister has been clear that the negotiation for Britain’s future relationship with Europe will begin under a new Prime Minister. Until negotiations are concluded, we remain a full member of the EU and must meet our obligations as a member of the EU.

Economic Situation

Conor McGinn: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an assessment of the potential economic effect of the UK leaving the EU on (a) St Helens North constituency, (b) Merseyside and (c) the UK.

Greg Hands: While it is clear that we do now face a significant economic challenge as a result of the referendum decision, the UK economy is well placed to respond. Over the last six years we have taken a series of difficult decisions in order to rebuild our economy. The government has invested in the Northern Powerhouse, securing agreement to elect five new powerful mayors across the north, and making substantial investment commitments in transport, science, research and culture. The employment rate in the North is close to record highs.

Department for Energy and Climate Change

Multiple Occupation: Energy

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that houses with multiple occupation that are let on a room-by-room basis are not exempt from minimum energy efficiency standards.

Andrea Leadsom: The Energy Efficiency (Private Rented Property)(England and Wales) Regulations 2015 require that, from April 2018, domestic and non-domestic private landlords ensure their properties have a minimum energy efficiency rating of E at the point at which they issue a new tenancy, or renewing or extending an existing one. The domestic regulations apply to all private rented dwellings which are legally required to have an EPC, and where the tenants are on assured tenancies under the Housing Act 1988, regulated tenancies under the Rent Act 1977 or certain types of agricultural tenancy. The minimum standard will apply where a building has an EPC and only part of the building is let (such as on an individual room basis) on an applicable tenancy. The Department is currently developing guidance documents to assist landlords in complying with their obligations under the regulations, and to support enforcement authorities in fulfilling their duties.

Cabinet Office

Cabinet Office: Advertising

Tom Watson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much his Department has spent on advertising in the last six months.

Matthew Hancock: A total for advertising spend specifically could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

UK Withdrawal from EU: Scotland

Tom Watson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what discussions he has had with the Scottish Government on the outcome of the EU referendum.

John Penrose: The Prime Minister has spoken to the First Ministers of Scotland and Wales, as well as the First and deputy First Ministers in Northern Ireland.We must ensure that the interests of all parts of our United Kingdom are protected and advanced. So as we prepare for a new negotiation with the European Union, we will fully involve the Scottish Government, Welsh Government and Northern Ireland Executive.

Iraq Committee of Inquiry

Owen Thompson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what support the Government plans to provide to veterans of the Iraq Conflict who are concerned by the findings of the Chilcot Report and its implications for their service records.

Matthew Hancock: The Cabinet Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Iraq Committee of Inquiry

Owen Thompson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps his Department has taken to provide similar support for injured veterans of the Iraq conflict following the publication of the Chilcot Report to that provided to the next of kin of people who lost their lives in that conflict.

Matthew Hancock: The Cabinet Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Iraq Committee of Inquiry

Owen Thompson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 15 June 2016 to Question 38697, what steps his Department has taken to provide injured veterans of the Iraq conflict with free copies of the Chilcot Report.

Matthew Hancock: The Cabinet Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Politics and Government

Norman Lamb: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the petition on the change.org website, entitled Restore truthful politics - create an independent office to monitor political campaigns, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of creating such an office; and if he will make a statement.

John Penrose: The Government will consider this and other issues relating to the regulation of campaigning at referendums, following the publication of the Electoral Commission's report on the administration of the referendum on the United Kingdom's membership of European Union.

Lung Cancer: Liverpool

Luciana Berger: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many people in (a) Liverpool, Wavertree constituency and (b) the Liverpool City Region have been (i) diagnosed with and (ii) died from lung cancer in each year since 2010.

Mr Rob Wilson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.



UKSA Letter to Member - Lung Cancer Death
(PDF Document, 79.19 KB)

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Air Pollution: Merseyside

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department has taken to reduce air pollution in (a) Liverpool and (b) Merseyside since 2010.

Rory Stewart: The Government is committed to improving air quality in the UK. Between 2010 and 2014, emissions of nitrogen oxides fell by 17 per cent. To make further progress, the Government published the national air quality plan for nitrogen dioxide in December last year. The plan clearly set out how we will improve the UK’s air quality through a new programme of Clean Air Zones, alongside national action and continued investment in clean technologies such as electric and ultra-low emission vehicles. This included a plan for the achievement of EU air quality limit value for nitrogen dioxide in the North West and Merseyside. Alongside national action, local authorities have a crucial role to play in improving air quality in their areas. They are required to review and assess air quality in their areas and to designate Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs) and put in place Air Quality Action Plans (AQAPs) to address air pollution issues where national air quality objectives are not being met. Nitrogen dioxide pollution from road transport is the predominant source of air pollution in Liverpool and the Merseyside area. Since 2008, Liverpool City Council has declared the whole city and its boundaries as an AQMA, while both Sefton and St Helens Councils have designated five and four AQMAs respectively. No AQMAs have been designated by Knowsley and Wirral Councils. All three Merseyside local authorities with designated AQMAs have AQAPs in place to improve air quality in their areas. Most of the measures set out in the AQAPs are aimed at promoting sustainable transport initiatives. Since 2010 a total of £265,526 in air quality grant funding has been awarded to Liverpool City Council, Sefton Council and St Helens Council in support of various projects aimed at improving air pollution monitoring and promoting greener transport in the region.

Agriculture: Subsidies

Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the main reasons for delays in basic farm payments were in the most recent year for which information is available; and if she will make a statement.

George Eustice: There have been a number of challenges with the introduction of the Basic Payment Scheme in its first year. These include the implementation of a new IT solution; new European Commission requirements of the scheme such as greening and the associated administrative checks and the move to the use of established pre-populated forms and processes for 2015.As of 3 July 86,760 (99.6%) of farmers have received a payment on their 2015 BPS claim. The Rural Payments Agency continues to focus on making top up payments to those farmers who have already received a bridging payment.

Cats

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many big cat sightings have been reported in each year from (a) 2000 to 2010, (b) 2015 and (c) 2016 to date.

Rory Stewart: Natural England collects data relating to sightings or signs of exotic mammals including big cats. Data on sightings of big cats, reported to Natural England and its predecessors between 2000 and 2012, can be found by accessing the Natural England section of the National Archives website.  Data for big cat sightings from 2013 is as follows.YearNo. cases reportedNo. individual animals reportedConfirmedSupported but not confirmedDiscountedProbably other causeInconclusive20135552014111201533 1  2  There have been no big cat sightings so far this year.

Plastic Bags

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department plans to produce data on the reduction in single-use plastic carrier bag usage in England for the period ending 6 April 2016.

Rory Stewart: The Government will release single-use carrier bag data on or before 31 July this year for the reporting period 5 October 2015 – 6 April 2016. The release will include a summary of the significant points, incorporating an indication of the reduction in single-use carrier bag usage.

Animal Welfare: Circuses

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the Government's policy is on banning wild animals from being used in circuses.

George Eustice: A ban on the use of wild animals in travelling circuses is a manifesto commitment and will be introduced as soon as parliamentary time allows. In the interim, the welfare of any wild animals still being used by travelling circuses in England is protected by the Welfare of Wild Animals in Travelling Circuses (England) Regulations 2012. Currently, 17 wild animals are licensed by Defra under the Regulations for use by two circuses.

Hill Farming: Government Assistance

Chris Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent support her Department has given to lamb farmers.

George Eustice: We have introduced a new system of extended tax averaging, allowing farmers to choose whether to spread their tax over a two or five-year period.We are working on opening up new export markets for lamb. The Secretary of State had discussions on opening access for British lamb to the American market on her recent US trip. We are supporting the sector’s efforts to improve its efficiency and competitiveness through co-funded Agri-Tech projects.

Wildlife

Mark Menzies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans the Government has to help more children access and understand nature.

Nigel Huddleston: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans the Government has to help more children access and understand nature.

Rory Stewart: The Government’s ambition is to connect more children with nature. We have supported a number of initiatives for children to access and better understand the environment. Our aim is to not only give all children the chance to experience the natural world, but also to understand it, and respond to it. For example: Our Eight Point Plan for National Parks will:Double the number of apprenticeships in National Park Authorities by 2020;Provide a new package of teaching materials for schools based on National Parks;Engage directly with more than 60,000 young people a year through schools visits by 2017/18. Defra has also worked closely with its delivery bodies and partners on a Natural Connections Pilot Project that supported schools, not only to connect children with nature through outdoor learning, but also to make sure schools are able to connect outdoor learning to their curriculum. We are also helping schools plant a million trees in their communities, so children can see first-hand the power of nature.

Agriculture: Females

Christopher Pincher: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she plans to take to encourage more women to work in the food and farming industries.

Elizabeth Truss: Our farming and food sector need to draw from the widest possible range of talents, including women. A record 2600 women are now leading farms and am I keen to build on this, which is why I championed women’s involvement in farming at a recent round table.There was significant growth in the take-up of agriculture as a degree course last year and it is encouraging that so many people are seeing the potential of this exciting career. More women than ever before are taking agriculture-related courses, with women now accounting for 62% of enrolments.

Nature Conservation: Crime

Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the National Wildlife Crime Unit in tackling wildlife crime and protecting endangered animals.

Rory Stewart: As part of the Government’s funding agreement, Defra regularly assesses the performance of the National Wildlife Crime Unit. Last year, for example, as part of an international law enforcement operation, the Unit supported 28 investigations and supported seizures of almost 700 illegal goods derived from protected species. Defra and the Home Office have guaranteed funding for NWCU until March 2020.

Bees

Christian Matheson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the reasons for the decline in the bee population.

George Eustice: In 2014 Defra published independent research on the status of pollinators in the UK. This showed an overall decline in wild bee diversity, a major cause of which has been the loss of flower-rich habitat driven by changes in agricultural land use and urbanisation. Our National Pollinator Strategy highlights the vital contribution we can all make, from farmers to window box gardeners, to support pollinators by ensuring they have food and a home.

Government Departments: Food

Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress is being made on ensuring that government departments buy more British food.

Elizabeth Truss: All fresh milk served in government establishments and more than 90% of butter and cheese served is made from British milk. This represents £11 million of business for British dairy farmers.We are working with all central Departments to ensure their food and catering contracts comply with the balanced scorecard approach.The Ministry of Justice recently launched a tender for supplying food to prisons, worth £500m, which requires bids to use the balanced scorecard. From April this year all 30 million portions of UHT milk supplied to prisons each year is 100% British milk. We are working with MoD to develop the best way to embed the balanced scorecard into their forthcoming contracts for the Armed Forces at home and abroad.

Department of Health

WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what his Department's priorities are for the 7th Conference of the Parties to the World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control to be held in November 2016.

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what representations he has received about his Department's participation in the seventh conference of the parties to the WHO framework convention on tobacco control in November 2016.

Jane Ellison: According to the formal Rules of Procedure of the Conference of the Parties, the provisional agenda, together with other conference documents, shall be distributed by the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) Secretariat at least sixty days before the opening day of the session. Once the FCTC Secretariat has published these key papers, the Department will discuss priorities with Ministers. The Department has received parliamentary questions and enquiries from stakeholders on the composition of the delegation to this meeting, which will also be decided when the key papers are published.

Health Services

Dr Sarah Wollaston: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether NHS England has met the key deliverable in the 2014-15 NHS England business plan to ensure that more than 70 per cent of all scientific and diagnostic services are part of accreditation programmes.

George Freeman: The measurement of scientific and diagnostic services was more complex than originally envisaged which meant that the 70% target for these services to be part of an accreditation programme was difficult to quantify. NHS England continues to lead a programme of work to increase the number of scientific and diagnostic services that are part of accreditation programmes and demonstrate robust quality assurance measures.

Tobacco: Smuggling

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent discussions he has had with the tobacco industry on the Government's commitment to tackle the illicit trade in tobacco products and its potential effect on public health policy.

Jane Ellison: Health Ministers have held no meetings with the tobacco industry to discuss illicit trade.

NHS: Part-time Employment

Graham Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of NHS clinical staff work part-time.

Graham Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of NHS clinical staff that work part-time are additionally registered as agency staff.

Ben Gummer: The proportion of National Health Service clinical staff who work part-time is in the attached table. The figures are taken from the Health and Social Care Information Centre’s monthly workforce statistics and cover staff working in NHS trusts and clinical commissioning groups. The number of NHS clinical staff who work part-time and are additionally registered as agency staff is not collected centrally.



Part-Time Staff Table
(Excel SpreadSheet, 19.85 KB)

Clinical Commissioning Groups: Pay

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the guidelines are for remuneration of chairs of clinical commissioning group governing bodies.

George Freeman: Clinical commissioning groups are autonomous bodies which are responsible for managing spend as they deem appropriate. However, NHS England has published the guidance Clinical Commissioning Groups: Remuneration guidance for Chief Officers (where the senior manager also undertakes the accountable officer role) and Chief Finance Officers which can be found at this address: https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Remuneration-guidance-final.pdf

West Cumberland Hospital: Maternity Services

Mr Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what evidence his Department is taking into account to decide whether (a) consultant-led and (b) midwife-led maternity services should be withdrawn at West Cumberland Hospital.

Ben Gummer: Decisions on maternity services at West Cumberland Hospital are matters for the local National Health Service.

Gambling

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people have been treated by the NHS for gambling addictions in each of the last five years.

Alistair Burt: The information is not collected centrally.

Clinical Commissioning Groups: Pay

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average total remuneration was of chairs of clinical commissioning group governing bodies in (a) 2014-15 and (b) 2015-16.

George Freeman: Information on the remuneration of chairs is held by individual clinical commissioning groups and not collected centrally.

Health Services

Kevin Barron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will adopt the recommendations of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Primary Care and Public Health in its Inquiry Report into NHS England's Five Year Forward View: behaviour change, information and signposting, published in March 2016, that reports of self-care pilots and evidence-based initiatives in the NHS should be sent to the Self Care Forum for upload to its best practice portal.

Alistair Burt: The Self Care Forum was established in 2011 to further the reach of self-care and embed it into everyday life. Local organisations involved in self care pilots and evidence based initiatives are free to send their findings to the Self Care Forum as recommended in the All Party Parliamentary Group’s Report, should they wish to do so. The Five Year Forward View set out how the health service needs to change, with an improved relationship between patients and communities. It made a specific commitment to do more to support people with long-term conditions to help them manage their own health.To support this commitment, NHS England established the Realising the Value Programme to help to build an evidence base about what works best for different patients, how much extra resource may be needed to support the growth of services locally and which approaches, if any, are demonstrably cost effective. Additionally, NHS England announced that a consortium led by Nesta and the Health Foundation in partnership with Voluntary Voices (National Voices, Regional Voices, National Association for Voluntary and Community Action and Community Service Volunteers), the Behavioural Insights Team and Newcastle University, had been selected to take forward this work. Nesta is also seeking to learn from and build on existing toolkits and learning resources and has worked to collate examples. These are hosted on the Nesta website at the following link: www.nesta.org.uk/realising-value-resource-centre

Alcoholic Drinks: Misuse

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent assessment he has made of the level of alcohol dependency in the criminal justice system.

Ben Gummer: Research shows that around three quarters of people in contact with the criminal justice system in the United Kingdom have a problem with alcohol and over a third are dependent on alcohol; this includes those in police custody, those in probation settings and those in the prison system. Public Health England has advised that in 2014/15 there were 79,952 new presentations to alcohol treatment in the community. 7,688 (10%) of these were referred to treatment via the criminal justice system (including arrest referral services, prisons and probation). See Report on Adult substance misuse statistics from the National Drug Treatment Monitoring Service 2014-15, table 4.5.1, which is available at:http://www.nta.nhs.uk/uploads/adult-statistics-from-the-national-drug-treatment-monitoring-system-2014-2015.pdf

Alcoholic Drinks: Misuse

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to develop (a) interventions for people with alcohol problems before they commit criminal offences and (b) support for people with alcohol problems within the criminal justice system; and if he will make an assessment of the implications for his policies of the findings of research by Professor Newbury-Birch of Teesside University, published in June 2016, on alcohol and the criminal justice system.

Ben Gummer: Across government, we have sought new ways to help rehabilitate offenders and support them to improve their health and live crime free lives. We take account of available evidence and research findings when developing new responses to alcohol dependency for people in the criminal justice system. Liaison and Diversion services which currently cover 53% of the population in England, provide early interventions for individuals of all ages, including those with alcohol problems, and inform decision-makers in the criminal justice system when sentencing people referred to these services. Liaison and Diversion services can help limit the number of court hearings, avoiding costly adjournments and periods on remand. Where appropriate, vulnerable offenders including those with drug and alcohol problems can be diverted away from the criminal justice system entirely.